301 Organics + Urban Ecology Project

Urban Ecology Project is assisting 301 Organics to develop a unique single-bin, aerated composting system, with the goal of creating a modular scalable composting system for large estates and facilities.

301 Founder, Christine Lenches-Hinkel, gave us a tour of her recent project initiative at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, involving various food waste processing trials and the design, construction and start-up of a green waste composting trial on-site using the forced aerated static pile method (FASP) powered by solar panels.

For more information regarding their food waste recycling and sustainability strategy, visit 301 Organics.

UEP Exploring Large Scale Solar Projects in California

Chris Peck of UEP has partnered with Farallon and Energy Development Partners (EDP) to explore large scale solar PV projects in California. The four part process involves acquiring the land through lease or purchase, establishing the interconnection to the grid, finding an off-taker to buy the power, and determining the rates and fees for the transmission of the power.

It’s a relatively complex process, but ultimately a win-win situation. The customer will pay less for their power, it will be generated without fossil fuels, they’ll receive energy credits for it, and they will be able to demonstrate that they are using 100% Green Power.

Farallon and EDP have experience with similar projects in Vietnam, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. We are exploring our first project in CA, which has a mature and robust renewable energy infrastructure. As we develop our understanding of the California marketplace, regulatory environment and power grid, we’ll have the ability to coordinate projects that will be attractive to investors who wish to be owners of the power generation in the range of 20 MW to 100 MW.

Reduction, Re-Use and Recycling

UPDATE: Our recycling technology now includes reduction and re-use.

We all know about the three prong attack at reducing waste - Reduce - Reuse - Recycle. The reduction of waste is most important and is achieved by adjusting purchasing habits to avoid purchasing non-reuseable and non-recyclable items, and through legislation. The re-use of items is also related to habits of consumers. Recent plastic bag bans in many cities are forcing re-use of cloth bags, rather than single use plastic bags. The effectiveness of recycling many kinds of plastic is now known to be very low. Therefore, cities and the State of California are pursuing legislation to reduce production, sale, and distribution of single use plastics. Plastic pollution in the air and the sea is now known to be a critical environmental issue. Recycling is one of the most important issues to be considered, and as awareness grows, we will see new technologies and products developed on the coming years.

More resources are available at BanSUP Refill, founded by Cheryl Auger and Anita Ghazarian.

See also the KCET film “Life in Plastics: California’s Recycling Woes.”

What's On The Books?

BIODIGESTER

We’re partnering with a few local people in an effort to develop biodigester technology for use in restaurants, large venues and on a community level.

GRAY WATER

We’re also jumping into storm water and gray water coordination projects for our clients. PECK CIVIL is developing a set of tools, designs and methodologies to make that more seamless for our customers.

RECYCLING

My wife and partner, Cheryl, opened up a Ban SUP Refill non-profit retail store where she provides refills, household supplies, detergents, shampoos and lotions in Pasadena. It joins two other stores that are currently in existence in Los Angeles, No Tox Life in Glassell Park and Sustain-LA in Highland Park.

URBAN LUMBER

We’re excited to be commissioning exquisite furniture designs using locally harvested urban lumber in association with Formlab Design Studio.